Nine: Found Again
Alena's scanned Harry's body. He was unbelievably pale and his heart rate was dangerously slow. If they didn't get blood into him he was going to suffer brain damage. She turned her gaze on Kalyn. The girl was doing her best to keep her composure.
"Do you have the needle?" Alena questioned. Without replying, Kalyn handed her mentor the IV.
"What are we going to tell them is wrong with him?" Kalyn piped as Alena started pumping blood into Harry's vein.
"I don't know yet. We need to get most of this blood into him first. That should give us ample time to come up with a diagnosis," Alena replied, perching on the edge of Harry's bed.
She ran her fingers across his brow. He was cold to the touch. Her heart went out to him. She watched the blood swirling into the young vampire, praying he would be alright. She knew that Severus would be beside himself if something happened to the boy, whether he admitted it or not.
'How is he?' Severus' voice resounded in Alena's head, causing her to smirk.
'Speak of the devil,' she said back.
'He's unconscious…comatose. We're giving him blood now. We won't know the extent of the damage until he wakes up,' she informed him.
'Do you suppose he'll be alright for the most part?'
'I hope so. I need to get back to him,' Alena commented and returned her attention to Harry's still form.
Kalyn had taken up residence in a chair on Harry's other side. She was stroking his hand with her thumb. A small river of tears of was sliding down her cheeks.
"He's going to be ok," Alena spoke soothingly.
"I know. I just feel sort of at fault. Not being able to help him earlier,' Kalyn murmured, wiping her cheeks.
"Come on. We've got to figure out what we're going to say to them," Alena transitioned.
Downstairs the Order was assembled in the sitting room. Minerva stood up to address the group. All eyes were upon her as she cleared her throat.
"I'm not sure what caused all of this but I hope they can find out," Minerva began.
"Do you think it's Voldemort?" Remus interjected.
"I have no idea Remus."
"It could be. He was in Harry's head in our fifth year. In the Department of Mysteries," Hermione supplied.
"I hope he pulls through," Molly breathed, looking pale.
"What's taking them so long?" Tonks groaned.
"He must be really bad," Ron uttered.
The group grew silent as Alena and Kalyn entered the room, looking somber. Minerva saw their expressions and reached for a chair, fearing the worst. Alena cleared her throat, trying to bide time.
"Well? What's wrong with him?" a chorus of voices asked.
"It's a bad infection. His body while trying to fight it off starting to fight itself and it started to shut down key body functions. In an effort to conserve energy, his brain slipped into a coma," Alena explained, keeping her true feelings to herself.
"We won't be sure of the real damage until he wakes up," Kalyn told them.
"When will that be?" Molly asked.
"Only he can wake himself up. We've given him some fluids to help things along. If you don't mind we'd like to monitor him for a few days," Alena answered.
"Oh of course," Minerva responded with a vigorous nod.
"We ask though that he not have any other people in the room with him until he wakes up and that we not be disturbed," Alena explained. She received some odd looks but her terms were agreed to.
The Order began to disperse, returning home or to their duties. Ron went upstairs to move his things but Alena stopped him, assuring him they would move his things. They needed to keep Harry in as sterile an environment as they could. Presently, Kalyn was changing to IV of blood. It was the seventh pint that had been forced into his vein. She turned to leave when a sound issued behind her. She whirled around and saw Harry's lips parting, his chest convulsing with coughs.
'Alena get in here. I think he's waking up!' she shouted silently. Alena burst into the room, shutting the door quickly.
Harry's eyes opened part-way, his pupils gazing out at a hazy blur. Two figures swam in front of him until his brain finally was able to bring them into focus. Alena and Kalyn were hovering over him.
"What?" he asked, his voice scratchy.
"Shh. Just rest, Harry," Alena whispered. Harry nodded, slipping back into sleep.
"Well the blood is doing what it should," she remarked to her companion.
"I just wonder when the next time he wakes up will be," Kalyn murmured.
"Well it seems kind of silly for both of us to be here right now," Alena chuckled.
"Go home Alena. I can stay with him," Kalyn replied.
"Alright. You know how to get to us if you need to," the older vampire spoke before leaving.
"Well?" was Severus' greeting when she walked in the door of the flat.
"He woke up briefly but he's sleeping now," she answered.
"Did he say anything?"
"'What'"
"Excuse me?"
"He said 'what?'," she told him.
"Oh. So I take it the blood id taking affect," he queried. She nodded and headed into the bathroom.
"I'm going to shower," she told him.
Severus returned to the book he'd been reading. He got two pages in when his thoughts were interrupted.
'Severus. You need to brew more potion,' Kalyn called out.
'I have enough.'
'Harry doesn't. I think that might have been part of the problem. Not feeding and being forced to be up and eat without the potion,' she answered.
'Alright. I'll go brew some. Alena can take it tomorrow,' he responded and set his book down.
Half an hour later, Alena emerged from the bathroom in search of her offspring. She found him hovering over a bubbling cauldron. A set of vials were resting on the table next to him, ladle in hand. She just watched at the craft for which he had been so revered. He expertly siphoned the liquid into the vials.
"Takes these tomorrow. Kalyn informed me he needed more," Severus spoke without looking up.
"Of course. Are you going to come out with me tonight?" she asked, longing for his companionship at the moment. Seeing Kalyn so upset over Harry's state made her heart long for his familiar embrace and touch. Severus nodded and the pair excited the flat in search for a midnight meal.
Back at Grimmauld Place, Harry was tossing and turning in his sleep, endangering the IV. Tentatively, Kalyn placed her hand on his shoulder, staying him. Her touch caused to him awake.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you. But you were tossing about and I was afraid the IV would come out," she said in a hushed voice.
"It hurts," he mumbled, only semi-coherent.
"Take it out," he begged.
"I can't. It's making you better," she cooed, as if talking to a small child.
Harry glared at her and moved to take it out himself. He didn't give a damn if it was helping him or poisoning him to death. He wanted it out. Suddenly, he was forced flat on his back, unable to move.
"You can't take it out," she said forcefully. She released him and turned away to head back to her chair.
Before she could take another step, Harry had leapt out of the bed and grabbed her from behind. Even for being sick, his grip was strong.
"Harry. You aren't thinking clearly. You don't want to do this," Kalyn said calmly, trying to fight him off.
Harry didn't reply. His lips were traveling along her neck, leaving a trail of wet kisses. She closed her eyes, knowing at least he did not possess the ability to rape her. Drinking from her was a completely different story. In one fluid movement, Harry had her pinned to bed, his lips searching for hers.
"Harry stop," she begged as he slid his tongue between her lips.
'Alena! Severus!' she shouted as loud as she could.
'What is it? What's wrong?' Severus asked.
'He tried to take the IV out and I told no and now he's attacking me,' she gasped out in one mental breath.
'We'll be right there,' Alena assured her.
"I need you to come. You're his sire. You can calm him down," she spoke firmly.
"We'd be risking too much. They'd never let me in," Severus hissed.
"Well can't you just apparate us into the room?"
"Yes."
"Then do it!"
In seconds they were in Harry's room, watching dumbfounded as he continued pin Kalyn down. Severus strode to the bed in two steps and grabbed Harry around the middle, dragging him off the girl. Alena rushed to her side.
"Are you ok?" she asked, checking the girl over for bite marks.
"I think so. He just…" she trailed off.
Severus set the squirming Harry down on his feet and then sent his hand slamming across his face. The sound silenced the room. Harry blinked up in complete shock at Snape.
"What the bloody hell was that for?" he exploded, sounding much more himself.
"For being a damned delusional prat and attacking Kalyn," Severus shot back.
"I…what?" Harry asked, staring wide-eyed at Kalyn.
"I…didn't hurt you did I?" he asked softly, taking a step back.
"No. But you scared me half to death," she answered, getting up and closing the gap. She wrapped her arms around him.
"I know you weren't thinking right. I forgive you," Kalyn whispered in his ear as tears fell from both their eyes.
Harry let go of her and turned his attention to his sire. No one spoke for what seemed an eternity. Harry moved back towards the bed.
"How'd you get past the guards at the door?" Harry asked of his sire.
"We apparated straight here. Speaking of which, we should be leaving," Severus announced
"We'll be back in a few hours with some more potions. Get some rest and no more stressful activity," Alena ordered as she and Severus disappeared.
The rest of the night and early morning passed uneventfully. Harry drifted back to sleep, his dreams filled with thoughts of Kalyn. Why had he attacked her? He did like her, and she knew that. But she'd told him it wasn't the right time. When he awoke, he felt better than he'd felt in weeks. He was still a little pale and weak but for the most part he felt alright. He was not, however, ready to face the Order. He thought the prospect of apparating out of the house was a good idea and that way no one would see him leave and come back. Why he hadn't thought of that before was beyond him. He jumped slightly in his bed when he saw Severus standing by his bed.
"Merlin! You nearly gave me a heart attack," he grumbled. Kalyn appeared and removed the IV.
"I don't think you'll need this anymore. For one thing we've run out of blood," she said with a smile.
"I'm feeling better. Thanks for saving me. I guess I was kind of stupid," Harry admitted sheepishly.
"You're young, you don't always make the right decisions," Severus responded.
Just then the door opened the room was filled with a high-pitched scream. Harry looked to see Tonks, shaking like a leaf and Remus standing, ghastly pale at her side. The cry of distress drew the other Order members in the house, including Molly, Kingsley, Minerva, Ron and Hermione. The group stopped dead as they all took in Severus standing next to Harry's bed.
"I told you he could get in!" Ron shot.
Tonks, now having regained her composure, and Kingsley advanced on the fugitive. No one had seemed to take notice of the fact that Harry was awake. His face, which had been full of color moments before was now pale, with anger.
"No let him go!" Harry spat, getting out of bed.
"Harry. It's Snape," Hermione tried to reason with him.
"I bloody know that Hermione!" Harry shot back.
"He's wanted for murder, Harry," Minerva said, her voice taking on a cold quality.
"He had no choice in what he did," the boy wizard explained.
"Let it go," Severus hissed.
"No. They should know the truth. Dumbledore would want them to," Harry retorted.
'Don't blow our cover,' Harry heard in his head.
"What are you talking about Harry?" Remus questioned, confusion etched on his face.
"Well go on. Tell them," Harry ordered his sire. Severus rolled his eyes at the boy.
"IF you would ever so kindly let me go then I will indulge the boy," Severus drawled. Kingsley and Tonks let go of his wrists.
'You prick!' Harry snapped.
"I informed Albus of the vow that Narcissa Malfoy and I entered into last summer, in which if her son were to fail in his task from the Dark Lord, I would have to do it," he began.
"Knowing my loyalty to the Order, and thus my hesitance to fulfill the task, Albus forced me to make a second vow stating that regardless of my personal feelings towards the matter I had no choice but to fulfill the task," Severus answered.
"And we're just supposed to believe you?" Hermione shot.
"Yes. Because it's the truth," Harry retorted.
"Why do you trust him? Did he do something to you?" Molly asked, eyeing Snape disapprovingly.
"No. He didn't do anything to me," he grumbled.
'It might be fortuitous to tell them,' Alena told Severus silently. She'd been standing in the corner with Kalyn silently, watching the event unfold.
'No,' he replied.
'I'm telling them. I don't care. They need to know. If don't tell them. I'm just going to end up sick again,' Harry announced to the three vampires in the room.
"Ok so he sort of did something. But it was a good thing," Harry said, backtracking.
'This is going to turn out bad,' Kalyn remarked.
"What did he do?" Ron asked, narrowing his eyes at the former Professor.
"Well…we…" he began, pointing to Severus, himself and the two women, "are vampires."
"Vampires? No.. Why on earth would that be a good thing?" Minerva questioned, looking thunderstruck.
"I…um…can work on fighting Voldemort when he's asleep at night. We're the most awake then.," Harry explained. He'd caught himself and almost said 'can find Horcruxes'.
'Just tell them about the damn Horcruxes,' Severus snapped in Harry's head.
"And look for Voldemort's Horcruxes too. Really it's a good thing. I just need some space that's all. I got sick because you all were keeping me locked up in here when I needed to be outside feeding," Harry explained. The group gave a collective grimace at the mention of feeding.
"This isn't some joke, is it Harry?" Hermione asked nervously.
"No," he answered, bearing his fangs.
"Stop showing off," Severus hissed, his own fangs showing slightly.
"Then stop trying to compete with me," Harry shot back with a smile.
"Boys. Do I need to separate you?" Alena asked, speaking aloud for the first time since the incident began.
"I'm sure I like this but if it's true then there is nothing we can do," Minerva said, seeming to accept the situation rather quickly.
"We will be checking Albus' pensieve to see if you're telling the truth," she continued, addressing Severus.
"I would expect no less from you, Minerva," he murmured.
"We'll leave you to your business," she muttered, ushering the group out. As Ron left, he shot Harry an uneasy look. It was clear the redhead was not going to just accept that his best friend was now a blood-sucking vampire.
"Can we please go out and feed now?" Harry begged once the quartet was alone.
"Of course," Severus replied, appearing in rather high spirits.
"Weight off your chest eh?" Harry chortled as they disapparated.
'From yours as well I see," his sire replied.
"Yes. It is," Harry answered, enjoying being out with his own kind again. Tonight he would just enjoy their company. Tomorrow was a new day and he had a mission to complete.